Chamber member to compete in triathlon for apprentice charity

A Brighouse-based member is to compete in the London triathlon to raise awareness and funds for Calderdale charity, Working Wonders.

Martin Haigh, founder of training and development company Lattitude7 will take part in the capital’s fundraiser on Sunday 9 August. It will include a 1,500m swim in Royal Victoria Dock, followed by a 40km cycle to The Houses of Parliament and back and finally a 10km run round the Excel Centre.

Martin is also a coach and director for the Halifax-based charity, Working Wonders, set up in 2013 to help young people across Calderdale into employment. Since the charity’s formation, more than 50 young people have been supported into employment and 27 of these into apprenticeships. This has led to a number of permanent jobs in a variety of companies including fellow Brighouse-based businesses Crosslee and Sleigh and Storey.

Martin commented, “There are currently fifty 18-24 year olds on the charity’s books and in order to fund their first year in employment, which is a great incentive for cash-strapped businesses, we need to continue to raise awareness and funds through initiatives such as the London Triathlon.”

Martin, a keen supporter of local business and charity, will be celebrating five years’ in business at the Brighouse-based business Lattitude7 this autumn.

Alongside the 14 triathlons he will have shortly completed, he has also run 20 marathons and 10 consecutive Three Peaks Races in support of a number of local and national charities. These include Whizz Kids, Outward Bound Trust, Cancer Research, St. John’s Ambulance, Calderdale Special Care Baby Unit, Bermerside Special School in Halifax, Scope and Children with Leukaemia; as well as Working Wonders.

For the upcoming triathlon, Martin has set a £2,000 target which will pay a year’s salary for an apprentice into employment. To date, Martin has raised more than £700 including a donation from local MP, Jason McCartney.